The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) is set to hold a nationwide transport strike on Wednesday, August 14, to protest the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP), formerly known as Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Piston President Mody Floranda, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Secretary General Jerome Adonis, jeepney operators, drivers and members of Piston gather at the Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City on Monday, August 12. (Photo from Hannah Nicol/MANILA BULLETIN)
The strike is part of Piston's ongoing campaign against the PTMP, which they claim is harmful to the livelihood of many transport operators and drivers.
In a press conference on Monday, August 12, at Kamuning Bakery Cafe in Quezon City, Piston President Mody Floranda said that there will be a large-scale protest on August 14.
“May iba’t ibang anyo ng kilos protesta, may march and rally, caravan at welga sa mga ruta. Iyan po ang ating tugon dun sa inannounce ni Marcos na hindi na niya bibigyan ng extensyon ang ating mga operator (There are various forms of protest, including marches and rallies, caravans, and strikes along the routes. This is our response to President Marcos’s announcement that he will not grant an extension to our operators),” Floranda said.
Floranda also mentioned that the protests will continue beyond August 14, with additional demonstrations planned for this month and September.
He also criticized President Marcos for not recognizing a Senate resolution that calls for the suspension of the PTMP's implementation.
“Paniningil ng mga driver at operator kay President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. doon sa kanyang hindi pagkilala sa Senate Resolution na kung saan ay pinirmahan ng majority ng mga senador na nagsususpinde ng implementation ng programa ng PTMP (Drivers and operators are calling out President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for not recognizing the Senate Resolution signed by the majority of senators suspending the implementation of the PTMP program),” he said.
“Sapagkat kung titignan natin, magmula nung itinulak ang programang ito ay maraming nawalan ng kabuhayan, maraming dating may kabuhayan, may pag-aari ng mga unit at prangkisa pero sa kasalukuyan dahil sumunod sa programa ng PTMP ay mga nawalan ng sariling pag-aari na kanilang mga unit at ng kanilang mga prankisa, at sa ngayon ay wala ng kita (When we look at it, we can see that many lost their livelihoods when this program pushed through. Many who previously owned units and franchises are now without their assets and income because they followed the PTMP, and they are currently left without earnings),” he added.
Mary Grace Duldulao, a jeepney operator, also spoke at the event, saying that joining the modernization program would result in the loss of their franchises and units.
"Paano kami susunod kung ang pattern po namin na sinusundan, 'yung mga naunang na-consolidate ay nawalan ng hanapbuhay (How can we comply when the pattern we’re following has already resulted in the loss of livelihoods of those who earlier availed of franchise consolidation,” she said.
“Hawak kami sa leeg, gugustuhin man naming lumabas sa corpo o coop na sasalihan, hindi naman namin pwedeng bawiin ang aming prangkisa at wala din kaming unit na makukuha. Dahil ito po ay nakapangalan ma sa coop o corpo na aming sasalihan (We are being controlled; even if we want to leave the coop or corporation we joined, we cannot reclaim our franchises, nor will we have any units to take with us. This is because the franchises and units will be under the name of the coop or corporation),” she added.
She emphasized that the PUVs are essential for the needs of their families. She called for a comprehensive review and resolution of the issues faced by those who have already joined the program.
She said they are willing to follow the PTMP if they see that it is implemented well and produces good results.
Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Secretary General Jerome Adonis, jeepney operators, drivers and other members of Piston transport group attended the event.